Perhaps I didn't make that clear enough. I ran the ground wire from the radio directly to one of those 10mm bolts, rather than run it through a harness.

 

/\ excellent choice!

 

I decided to install a new head unit myself today as well and ran into some troubles. It looks like the harness I bought to connect the power/illumination wires is incorrect so I need to route the wires myself regardless of colours.

I checked on the factory harness that's still in the car and it only has 5 wires, does anyone have a list to what these wires do? I'm not very good with wiring diagrams but here's my best guess:

Red - 12v constant
Yellow - power antenna
green/white - illumination
black/yellow - dimmer
blue/yellow - 12v acc

Does this look about right? My clarion deck doesn't have a dimmer so I assume I just need to hook up the other wires. I also have the mitah rca adapter for the S&S amp and I believe it's wired correctly. I soldered the blue wire on the adapter to the blue/white - amp turn on wire on the clarion harness.

One other thing, my clarion deck has a fat yellow wire that's listed as 'memory back-up lead'. Is this one necessary since I have no clue where to attach it.

 

Black/yellow - +12v acc
Green/white - Illumination
Red/blue - +12v constant (this goes to your memory back-up lead wire)

I don't know what your yellow wire is. Check it for 12v with the key off. If nothing, try with the key on, and then for any voltage with the dash lights on.

 

ok so basically im not gonna need the harness for the speakers and yes my HU has 2 out puts

 

ok here is the low-down on the mitsubishi evo/lancer audio...

for cars without the infinity system:

Harness=met 80-7001 (metra)
-this harness has all of the connections for your speakers and power..just match the colors and you are good to go.
for cars with the infinity system:

soungate adapter mitsamp
-this harness comes with everything you will need to retain your factory amp. All you will have to do is tap on your ignition, 12v battery, illumination, and ground to the chasis.

*The speaker harness you are refering to is the mitsamp adapter from soundgate. That is all that adapter does, is retain your factory amp which is powering your speakers..

 

that exactly what i needed to kno thanks

 

Thanks for the help, everything's up and running (well except the radio for some reason, but I never use that anyway).

edit: Well radio works it seems, but I guess I reversed the acc and constant 12v because the receiver performs a system check every time I turn it on. Ah well, as long as I have sound I'm happy until I completely replace the Infinity stuff.

 

i'm posting this for a buddy of mine with an evo with SSL package...since he's waiting for his account to be activated

need some help on this issue...my goal is to replace stock HU with an aftermarket HU & still retain the stock amp and stock subwoofer

i read the entire 4 pages...and just want to give a run down and make sure i have the process down and it's simple

1) i'm going to use the soundgate cord adapter solution

2) pick a new HU...what does the new HU need/include to make the soundgate cord work?...looks like it needs pre-amp outputs on the HU?

3) plugging things up...the plug from the amp which was connected right to the old headunit plugs right into the soundgate adapter, the other end of the adapter has 4 rca plugs on them, just plug them into the new headunit

what are these 4 rca plugs that are going to be plugged into the new head unit?

4) finally for the blue wire on the soundgate adapter connects with...EVERY aftermarket head unit with preamp outputs(and almost every one period) has a blue remote turn on wire coming from it's harness

what about the stock speakers? its from my understand the amp powers the speakers and subwoofer...so if i get the connection right on the amp with the new HU via soundgate adapter i should have my system up and playing?

is it that simple or is there more worked involved?

will i have any wires or plugs dangling free after installing the soundgate adapter & new HU?

what's this thing i found ppl using these adapters to get the amp and subwoofer to work with a new HU

1) the Metra adapter for the power
2) the MITAH for the audio output

 

All the Soundgate adapter needs is 2 sets of pre-outs on the HU. One set for front, one set for rear. If it also has a third set for sub out, you can add another amp and a better sub.

Front Left, Front Right, Rear Left, Rear Right

Correct, blue wire is for turning on the amp.

It is that simple, yes. I'd also recommend getting a harness adapter for hooking up the power and illumination wires. Put the wiring together first, then when you go out to install the new HU, it only takes about 15 minutes, tops.

If you get the harness adapter like I did, you'll have all the speaker wires, power antenna wire, phone interrupt, and a couple others I can't remember just now left over. You can either make all the connections between the harness adapter and the new radio harness, or leave them dangling. If you choose to let them dangle, bundle them up so they don't cause problems. If the ends of them are bare, trim the ends a little so there's no bare wire showing, then bundle them all together with heat shrink tube or tape.

I think the Metra adapter does the same thing as the Soundgate adapter, just costs more. Don't know about the MITAH adapter.

 

the metra adapter would simply be for power, as your speaker leads will be in the factory amp cable...its not needed, but will save you from having to cut into your factory wiring...a definite plus!

 

thanx for the replies

Myszkewicz could you please explain the harness adapter for hooking up the power and illumination?

i found a website describing what a harness adapter is suppose to be like?
http://www.nexxia.co.uk/Car_Stereo_f...mitsubishi.htm

Which ends will this harness adapter link up to eventually?

Power and illumination i'm assuming is for the new head unit?

okay i'm a little lost on this description? where are these wires coming from/left over...from the harness adapter or when i disconnect the factory stock HU?

so far i just need these adapters

1) Soundgate adapter for the amp
2) radio harness adapter...i thought i read somewhere that the evo with SSL comes with a radio harness?

 

I'm talking about a harness adapter that plugs in to your car's wiring, and you connect the wires to the harness that comes with the radio. No cutting/splicing necessary, then. It's all just plug in and go.

No aftermarket HU is going to just plug right in to the car's wiring.

 

Not to nit-pick, but a jensen double din in dash monitor will plug right in with any volkswagen that uses a metra 80-1784....or pretty mich any vw up until 2006....

The Jensen has the same female end inside the radio as the factory radio does...

sorry, I couldnt resist..

 

Dude...just go to cany circuit city and tell them that you need the metra 80-7001 harness and you want to order the soundgate mitsamp adapter.

*Then tell them you need the harness for whatever radio you are putting in. *(Circuit City has what are called smart harnesses, no wiring is needed for these. They are two seperate harnesses with connectors on both ends of each plug. For example...

R-----UC-UC-----FW

R=your specific radio wiring harness
UC=Universal connector
FW=factory wiring

You will have no wiring to do whatsoever, just plug the harnesses in and you will be done...its that simple..If you are still confused, just take it to circuit city and buy your radio from there as they offer free installation anyway and guarantee it for life...

They should have the soundgate adapter in stock, I know I do